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Tying it all Together!
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to set a
World Record! |
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Sunday,
September
7, 2008,
the
Madison
County
Museum
hosted a
quilt-tying
event.
The
event
provided
an
opportunity
for the
public
to
participate
in
teamwork
as we
competed
in an
activity
which
will be
entered
in the
Scholastic
World
Records
Book.
The
Quilt-tying
Bee
provided
an
activity
which
incorporated
historical
quilt
making
and the
use of
lots of
hands as
each
participant
tied one
knot on
the
quilt to
represent
one of
the many
orphan
riders
who came
by train
from New York City in the early
1900’s to begin new lives |
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in
Northeast
Nebraska.
Around
200
people
were
needed
to tie
the
knots
and
demonstrate
the
teamwork
involved
in
keeping
the
Orphan
Train
Riders
history
alive
remembering
the
courage
and
endurance
these
young
children
had to
possess
as they
came
West to
unknown
futures. |
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The quilting bee was held at the
Madison City Council Room. It
was Grandparents Day on Sunday,
September 7, 2008.
Many community
groups participated. All names,
and the group they represented
were registered , e.g., church,
civic or school. |
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The
quilt
has 70
photos
of
Orphan
Train
Riders
and
significant
events.
The
backing
has
state
birds
and
flowers.
The
quilt was raffled
at the
National
Orphan
Train
Celebration
on
September
20,
2008,
in
Concordia,
Kansas.
It was
won by
history
buff
Carolyn
Nielsen
of
Newman
Grove,
Nebraska. |
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The Madison County Historical
Society Museum in Madison
features Nebraska ’s largest
permanent Orphan Train display
working with orphan train
riders, historians, authors, and
artists to make this historical
information available to
schools, museum visitors, and
people of all ages. |
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Carolyn
with
Quilt |
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There was an opportunity to
visit with Lela Newcombe of
Columbus as she shared
stories about the photos on the
quilt. Lela rode the train to a
series of foster homes in
Missouri and finally to Lincoln
, Nebraska . She boarded her
first Orphan Train when she was
just two and a half years old in
1917. Lela, at 94 years of age,
is one of the few remaining
Orphan Train riders in Nebraska. |
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Many saw
the ad that ran in the Madison
Star Mail letting people in 1908
know that the train with Orphan
Train Riders would arrive and
the children would be available
for selection at the Hein Opera
House in Madison.
Information on these children
and many other riders was on display. |
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There
was no
charge
for the
event.
We did
not want
to
compete
with the
St.
Leonard’s
Bazaar
which
was
being
held at
the
Madison
County
Fairgrounds.
Historically the two events
are linked since many of the
Orphan Train Riders were placed
with Catholic families arranged
by the area Catholic churches.
Further details are available by
calling Carol at 402-992-1221 or
stop by the Madison Museum on
weekdays from 2 to 4 |
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On Grandparent's Day 214 citizens united to keep this American history alive and achieve a Scholastic World Record with a Quilting Bee including actual Orphan Train rider, Lela Newcombe. Nine hours and 17 minutes later our mission was accomplished! |
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Lela's
family
just
prior to
leaving
NYC.
The
three
little
girls in
white
were
given up
and rode
the
Orphan
Train.
Lela is
the
oldest,
standing
with her
arm on
the
chair by
her
dad.
Her
parents
were
making
moonshine
out of
their
home at
the time
the
young
children
were
taken
away.
The girls
were not
allowed
to
remain
together. |
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